Appearance: Beautifully done. Each cigar comes sleeved in cedar which has the bull’s head logo “branded” onto it and banded with the standard San Lotano band. The wrapper is a deep reddish-brown, almost colorado rosado, with a healthy sheen of oil and a very slight tooth. The cigars are slightly box pressed and look just gorgeous.

Construction: The Bull feels great in the hand, thanks in part to the soft press of the cigar. Each stick feels well filled, not too soft, not to firm… but just right. The foot reveals several bunches of well placed filler tobaccos and the pointed head is shaped and finished to perfection.

Cut and light: I was able to cut the head with ease using my Xikar Xi1 grip cutter. A soft light with a Bic lighter was all it took to get the foot glowing and the smoke underway.

The Smoke: The initial puffs of the San Lotano The Bull are filled with pepper and woody notes. While rather intense for the first ½ inch or so, the pepper quickly subsides yet remains present in the background for the rest of the cigars. The cigar maintains a woody, earthy profile like most Nicaraguan cigars, but the Sumatra-seed wrapper contributes a layer of pleasant spice not usually found in Nicaragua tobacco.

The Bull smokes perfectly maintaining an even burn and immaculate burn line. The ash held for over an inch before I tapped it off. I was able to leave the cigar unattended for well over 5 minutes without ever having to re-light or touch it up, a testament to the great construction AJ Fernandez’s cigars are known for.

Smoke time: 1 hour, 15 minutes (I smoked this to the nub!)

Discussion: Billed as medium to full bodied, I find the San Lotano “The Bull” closer to the full-bodied end of the spectrum. While I wouldn’t recommend this cigar to a beginner, I think that as full-bodied cigars go, this is one of the most easily approached.

Why I like this cigar: With all of the Nicaraguan tobacco based blends hitting the market right now, it’s nice to find one that’s just a little bit different. The Sumatra-seed wrapper from Ecuador is one of my personal favorites for its ability to add a deep spiciness to the aroma of a cigar. In selecting this wrapper for The Bull, AJ Fernandez created another great “Nicaraguan” cigar that doesn’t taste like every other Nicaraguan cigar out there.

I’ve been a huge fan of AJ Fernandez work and we have featured several of his blends as “Featured Boutique Blends” this year already. I’m glad that we’re able to offer this blend too for it has a profile that is unique and unlike any other blend we offer.